To whom it may concern,

A recent article in the Forsyth County News discussed the possibility of the county purchasing Lanier Golf Course.  The property consists of 172 acres of manicured grass and wooded land with numerous streams, lakes and walking trails. It has one of the finest golfing layouts in the State of Georgia. It provides beauty, recreation, open space, wild life habitat, storm water management and much more. It's a natural for parks and recreation bond funds.

Forsyth County is one of the wealthiest counties in the United States and is one of the few Metro Atlanta counties without at least one publicly owned golf course. Hall County has three. The county has a need for a golf course and the population to support at least one. If the county were to build a new golf facility it would cost $25,000,000 or more. Lanier Golf Course can be purchased for a fraction of that price.

There is no other type of property that can combine much needed recreation and green space preservation at no operating expense to the taxpayer. It will not only pay for its own operation but will actually show a profit that could be used to offset the operating cost of non revenue producing facilities such as baseball, football and soccer fields. Properly managed it should generate well over $2,000,000 in gross revenue with less than $1,500,000 in expenses. That's more than $500,000 per year net profit to the county. It would generate over $140,000 in sales tax, additional county revenue.

It would provide jobs for high school cart boys, retired rangers, golf pros, groundskeepers, food servers, chefs, accountants and numerous management positions; jobs for county residents at no cost to the taxpayer.

A county owned golf course would provide the public with green space and active recreation for male and female, young and old. Middle and high school golf teams could call it home and have the advantage of one of the best practice facilities around. It would be available for private and charitable golf outings, public and business meetings, weddings and Christmas parties. In the evenings the cart paths become perfect for a peaceful walk or a brisk jog and the restaurant overlooking the fairways and lakes would be ideal for special occasions or a quiet lunch or dinner. When it snows and there's no golf the slopes are great for sledding. The potential for the public is endless and again at no operating cost to the taxpayer.

If you believe as we do that the Lanier Golf Course would be a superior benefit to the residents of Forsyth County please write or call the county commissioners with your support for its purchase. It would be money well spent!